Bento Lunches?

ebonaskavi

Does anyone else make bentos for lunch? I bought a box at the start of July and have used it for lunch at work almost every day since. I really like it and I feel like its taught me a lot about real portion sizes. I've also discovered that it's not at all limiting in what I'm able to have... I just have to make it fit in the box.

Normally for lunch I aim for 350-450 calories. Here are some pictures of a couple of lunches I've had in the past few weeks. I try to keep them 1:1:2. 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 2 parts fruit and veggie.


299889_670165954986_9503790_35327486_1151150620_n
Greek burger, tzaziki (sp?) sauce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber onion salad.


Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers.


Egg with scallions, avocado, peach, and potatoes with parsley.

each of my little liners holds about half a cup of food, so the entire thing hold about 2 cups.
Last week my husband I went out to lunch (at Arbys which he loves... I had never been and was indifferent) and I ate half a sandwich and half a small fries and felt super full because volume-wise I was at my normal lunch capacity (though over my caloric goal...).

This is working for me! Anybody else using a bento/what do you do for healthy lunches at work?

rachemn

Your lunches look beautiful!! I have a bento box, but I haven't been using it and I'm going to start immediately! That's one thing I've always had a problem with...portion size and I really need to change that. And I pack a lunch for work every day too.

JBRENTLINGER

This idea rocks! I may start trying it here real soon!

svanhoecke

I worked in an office that was 95% Japanese women this summer and they all had these bento boxes! I am so jealous you have one. Where did you buy it?

LittleFootHafner

Have you looked on their website for ideas:
http://www.bentolunch.net/

amfmmama

Great idea!! I use them for my kids, never occurred to me to use them for myself!!

ebonaskavi

I worked in an office that was 95% Japanese women this summer and they all had these bento boxes! I am so jealous you have one. Where did you buy it?

I actually got mine on amazon.com (the real pretty ones are super expensive!) http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Duo-Stainless-Container-Orange/dp/B001OIX5H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317210571&sr=8-1

RuthAne

I haven't used one before, but your combinations look so good!

JulieBoBoo

your lunches are beautiful! I use a bento-like system for my daughters (easylunchboxes.com) and they love it. I confess the lunches I pack for them aren't nearly as pretty as yours though! There are pics in my blog (linked on my profile) if you're interested. Since I eat at home I don't pack a lunch for me.

BrettPGH

My kid goes to school with her little bento box too. She loves it.

carriem73

What a great idea for portion control- I'm headed to Amazon right now to search for bento boxes!

emariec78

love this idea! I've seen these in specialty stores before, but never thought about using them for myself and for portion control. thanks for posting

carolina_r

Love the bento box idea!

msDpenguin87

does it come with the little liner things?

natika33

Hi Ebonaskavi!

Your bento boxes are super cute and look delicious! The flower cut-outs really make the one example look Japanese. (^_^)

I love bento boxes because I think the portion sizing is really good and really helps you visualize the proper amount.

Incidentally, if you don't have a proper bento any normal Tupperware-type container can also be used. (Not as cute, I know). If you are aiming for 450 calories and you keep to the proper rules of making up a bento (the ratios you mentioned - 3 parts grains, 1 part protein, 2 parts vegetables), then a 400mL container is the right size. You can tell how many mLs your container holds by filling it with water, then measuring the amount of water.

A really good website in English that explains a lot about bento boxes is lunchinabox.net. I just paraphrased from the website in my above paragraph. (~_^)

natika33

P.S. You can use silicone cupcake tins for liners if you can't get the real ones. Wax paper tins also works if you aren't using anything too wet.

Wilmingtonbelle

I love bento lunches! I bought a cheap alternative to a bento box called the Stay Fit Lunch To Go. It's awesome with a gel pack in the top to keep everything cool. I bought 3 other types including the soup, salad and cereal stay fit kits. Find on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3PV3C/ref=s9_simh_gw_p364_d0_g79_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1AC1FM5FQAAF94YXXJQQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

ebonaskavi

does it come with the little liner things?

no it doesn't, those are actually from the wilton pull-apart-puzzle cake set.


You can use normal cupcake liners, but I like the silicone ones because they are reusable and mine are different shapes so they fit in the box nicely. In the greek burger one I have the sauce in a plastic dixie cup that I cut down to be the correct height.

Oishii

I have loads of kiddy bento boxes at home (my husband is Japanese and my mil sent them for a party we had) and my son will use one for school, but I really must work on making his as pretty! Thanks for the inspiration :flowerforyou:

Silchi24

:happy: :happy:

Does anyone else make bentos for lunch? I bought a box at the start of July and have used it for lunch at work almost every day since. I really like it and I feel like its taught me a lot about real portion sizes. I've also discovered that it's not at all limiting in what I'm able to have... I just have to make it fit in the box.

Normally for lunch I aim for 350-450 calories. Here are some pictures of a couple of lunches I've had in the past few weeks. I try to keep them 1:1:2. 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 2 parts fruit and veggie.


299889_670165954986_9503790_35327486_1151150620_n
Greek burger, tzaziki (sp?) sauce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber onion salad.


Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers.


Egg with scallions, avocado, peach, and potatoes with parsley.

each of my little liners holds about half a cup of food, so the entire thing hold about 2 cups.
Last week my husband I went out to lunch (at Arbys which he loves... I had never been and was indifferent) and I ate half a sandwich and half a small fries and felt super full because volume-wise I was at my normal lunch capacity (though over my caloric goal...).

This is working for me! Anybody else using a bento/what do you do for healthy lunches at work?

I've never even heard of them, but I love it! I am off to AMAZON to get me some. Thanks for the idea. Now I don't have to lug around all these containers.

Silchi24

BTW, where did you get that little bottle that is in the Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers, picture?

martinbeks

I was reading a blog a few years ago when I first discovered bento lunch boxes (Vegan Lunch Box by Jennifer...can't think of her last name, but her nickname for her son was "Schmoo" if anyone knows who I'm talking about). I actually bought a Laptop Lunchbox on amazon for me and one for my sister's birthday for portion control. I love it, though I don't use it as often as I should. I really need to start using it again. I loved it. Just enough.

ebonaskavi

BTW, where did you get that little bottle that is in the Spanish rice with beans and turkey sausage, salad with cucumber and cheese flowers, picture?

It's a pig shape and is awesome for salad dressing, soy sauce and the like. I think it holds a little over a tsp... and amazon, because it is where I buy everything XD

http://www.amazon.com/Sauce-Container-Piggy-Square-Bottle/dp/B002TZ04FK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317240608&sr=8-1

BrewerGeorge

Those look AWESOME!

Grimmerick

Yep I love my bento boxes, and my onigiri holders. Got the sandwich cutters and the soy sauce holders too, plus the little paper food separaters. So much fun involved in making a bento!

_SusieQ_

Love this idea, bumping for later!

Can I have your recipe for the Greek burger??

Riverofbeauty

I looove bento lunches! Never thought about using the silicone muffin liners though - great idea!

I'm going back to Japan for a holiday in a couple of months (lived there for a year 10 years ago), and a bento lunchbox is definitely on my to get list!

quiningqualia

That's a brilliant idea~ I generally eat pretty healthily but my portions are excessive, especially at dinner. Making it fit in bento box sounds like an easy way to solve that problem! Also, thanks to the ladies who put up websites for easy bento-sized lunches.

ebonaskavi

Love this idea, bumping for later!

Can I have your recipe for the Greek burger??

Sure! Serves 4

1 lb lean ground turkey
1 container crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp oregano
pinch salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients and form into four patties. I "grilled" them on my non-stick grill pan about 4 minutes on either side over med-high heat. I stuck a meat thermometer in to check the temperature.

The feta makes these really good! I served with tzaziki sauce which is plain greek yogurt (I bought a single serving of the dasani kind, so about half a cup) a quarter cup seeded, peeled chopped cucumber, a tsp lemon juice, and some dill plus a little salt to taste. its best if this can sit and let the flavors meld. My husband really liked these (He ate three in a sitting...)

rachemn

Oh those greek burgers sound amazing! Can't wait to try them out. Looks like a trip to the grocery store for me tonight and I'll be adding these to the list. Thank you!

Sheeshy

I've been thinking about it. I think I will.